Pharmaceutical dispensing system for medicament and pre-packaged medication

Abstract

This invention focuses on resolving outstanding problems of pharmaceutical dispensing systems. A need for dispensing of both medicaments and pre-packed medications has been addressed. This invention comprises an accurate counting system for multiple concurrently dispensed medicaments. Accurate, high speed medicament dispensing with little or no jam ups is achieved. Self recovery is provided to prevent medicament over counts. Machine self learn modes replace manual intervention by pharmacy personnel. Concurrent multi-tasking is provided and a quick action robotic arm further expedites the dispensing process. A touch screen computer is provided for coordinating the individual modules and overall control. The apparatus covers internal security and restricts access to unauthorized persons.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]7,014,063 B2March 2006Shows6,974,050 B2December 2005Williams6,974,049 B2December 2005Williams6,971,544 B2December 2005Williams6,971,541 B2December 2005Williams6,910,601 B2June 2005Thomas6,905,046 B2June 2005Coughlin6,899,148 B1May 2005Geltser6,899,144 B1May 2005Geltser6,883,681 B1April 2005Coughlin6,742,671 B2June 2004Hebron6,722,525 B1April 2004Boyer6,667,473 B1December 2003Worthington6,659,304 B1December 2003Geltser6,631,826 B2October 2003Pollard6,625,967 B1July 2004Hebron6,625,952 B1September 2004Chudney6,578,734 B1June 2003Coughlin6,578,733 B2June 2003Geltser6,592,005 B1July 2003Coughlin6,497,339 B1December 2002Geltser6,421,584 B1July 2002Norberg6,370,215 B1April 2002Pinto6,161,721December 2000Kudera et al.6,116,461September 2000Broadfield6,085,938July 2000Coughlin5,907,493May 1999Boyer5,897,024April 1999Coughlin5,884,806March 1999Boyer5,873,488February 1999Guerra5,860,563January 1999Guerra5,798,020August 1998Coughlin5,768,327June 199...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0031]An Archimedes screw based dispensers offer both speed and good singulation. An Archimedes screw positioned above a stationary trough which allows medicament to fall back over the side of the trough into the medicament supply bin instead of getting jammed provides reliable dispensing. No jam-up prone restrictive channels are used. Pharmacy personnel set-up has been replaced by a machine self learn mode.

[0038]The volume of medicament supply bins is very efficiently applied resulting in the best use of floor space. Modularization allows system growth to customers requirements and their budgets.

[0040]The greater degree of automation, increased speed, collation and accuracy of dispensing, allows the pharmacists more peace of mind and quality time with their patients. The system cost effectiveness results in a quicker realization of return on investment. By adequately addressing pre-packaged medication, the invention becomes viable as an export product.

Problems solved by technology

Prior art has, however, not resolved the problems as listed below.

The first drawback is that a restrictive channel must be used to force each and every medicament through the light beam.

Those skilled in the art would agree this leads to jam ups.

Further, these restrictive channels are usually difficult to get to inside the dispenser mechanism, requiring emptying of the medicament supply bin.

Additionally, pharmacy personnel have to set up these restrictive channels for different medicament sizes.

The second drawback is that if the restrictive channel is not narrow enough at the counting point, two or more medicaments, one in the other's shadow, can be counted as one.

Free fall, by definition, is not possible through a restrictive channel.

The aforementioned does not provide the ability to discern what specific areas, or beams within the sensing plane was affected by medicaments passing through.

Also the physically bulky nature of opposed through-beam sensor configurations imposes limitations on the layout and technology used in a very critical area.

The physical layout of two sets of sensor arrays is cumbersome and costly.

The narrower the passageway, the better the singulation, however also the greater the probability of a jam occurring.

Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,232, May 1993, Kraft et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,806 Mar. 1999, Boyer et al. show the advantages of Archimedes screw dispensers but, as disclosed, jam problems exist.

Prior art lacks dispensing error recovery systems.

While this improves the problem it does so at a dispensing time cost and the over count problem is still not eliminated.

Prior art lacks adequate collation area suitable for medicament vials and pre-packed medication.

Prior art does not provide both medicament and pre-packaged dispensing from one system.

Prior art is not modular and thus can not be customized to pharmacy floor layouts.

Without modularization automation can not grow as customers requirements and their budgets grow.

Prior art systems are complicated and thus costly to purchase and run.

This makes return of investment more difficult to achieve.

Although, over the last three decades, the automatic pharmacy dispensing automats' have made great strides forward, the problems highlighted above have not been solved in prior art.

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